Naples TheatreZone jump-starts its tradition with 'Home for the Holidays'

There's no business like snow business, as TheatreZone learned in 2017, when its popular "Home for the Holidays" musical revue was struck down by Hurricane Irma.

The G&L Theatre was under restoration until just before Christmas Day, forcing the organization to cancel its eight-star paean to the season last year. It's one of TheatreZone's splashiest moments, taking the holidays from a Latin-flavored, up-tempo sequence to a quiet moment for "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

This was to be the tradition-making year for "Home for the Holidays," Mark Danni, founder and artistic director for TheatreZone, said. The first did so well, the plans for the second in 2017 were even bigger; but this year's event has had to replace that second time.

Stars include some of the actors familiar in TheatreZone musicals. Danni promises plentiful dance, and costumes are flashy and fun.

"We have 30 costume changes, and headdresses that light up," Danni said, acknowledging that backstage will be a zoo. "While somebody's singing, someone else is changing."

"We like to have a gamut from traditional to pop-py rock stuff. And there's a good Broadway component in it, of course."

Ten-year-old Kylie Gust, who has already made her name by producing her own Christmas CD to raise money for charity, will sing the hymn, "Ave Maria,"and Valentina Askar, 11, sings "All I Want for Christmas Is You."

Danni calls the two "TheatreZone stars of the future": "We wanted to bring some children into the event because it's so much about children, and these two girls have talent that is really beyond their years."

For contemporary Christmas music fans, there are the Paul McCartney song "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time"; Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"; and Jose Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad."

One of Danni's favorites is a number titled "I'll Be Home" — "It's not the 'I'll Be Home for Christmas' everyone knows, but it's a very beautiful, moving song," he said.

There are a good number of traditional works like "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." There's a comic twist planned on "Baby, It's Cold Outside." And there are some surprises planned for the audience.

Danni wouldn't say more than that, but he added, "This is a happy show that everyone can leave feeling good."

'Home for the Holidays'

What: TheatreZone professional singers and dancers in a holiday salute with some unearthed treasures, new takes on old favorites